UAE’s 9/11 connection

These are the headlines we are tracking for you in this episode of On the News Line:

UAE’s 9/11 connection

Qatar’s recent diplomatic crisis with Saudi Arabia and its allies is finding a new dimension. Families of 9/11 victims say they are considering taking legal action against the United Arab Emirates because 2 of its nationals had links to the terror attacks. This follows accusations last month by Qatar’s ambassador to the US that the UAE had supported the 9/11 attacks. Qatar’s Ambassador to the US, Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al Thani, openly accused the Emirates of laundering money to terrorists. This has now led the families of 9/11 victims to come out and say the UAE needs to be added to lawsuits against Saudi Arabia for its alleged role in the attacks.

Al-Aqsa mosque closure

Palestinians have been simmering with rage for decades in the face of Israeli occupation of their territories and aggression. Israeli forces have killed hundreds of Palestinians since October 2015 when tensions flared up after Israeli soldiers stormed the al-Aqsa mosque in occupied Jerusalem al-Quds. Now there have been growing fears of a fresh wave of unrest due to Tel Aviv’s decision to shut al-Aqsa mosque compound and ban Friday prayers for Muslims. The decision which incurred the wrath of the Muslim world came after 3 Palestinians and 2 Israeli police officers were killed in a gun battle in the compound.